How to Change a Tire: A 7-Step Beginner Guide

Getting stuck on the side of the road is never fun. That's why you should read on to learn how to change a tire instead of calling roadside assistance.

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Have you ever had a flat tire? If so, join the club.

Flat tires are an unavoidable part of life. After all, almost everyone experiences this annoyance at one time or another. And flats usually happen at the most inconvenient moment possible. Perhaps you're late for work. Or your out on a date. Or it's raining hard. Or you're stuck on the side of the road during heavy traffic.

Whatever the situation, having a flat is never fun.

This article takes a look at how to change a tire when there's no one around to help you. Keep reading to get the inside scoop on a simple task that will help you get back on the road in a hurry.

Pull to the Side of the Road

The moment that you first notice you have a flat tire, it's important to immediately pull to the side of the road. Never continue to drive on a flat. Why? Because when a tire is flat, the tire rim can cause permanent damage.

Getting off the road as quickly as possible is important for staying safe while you change your tire, especially when there's heavy traffic. Keep in mind that you should never attempt to change a flat in the middle of the road.

If possible, pull off immediately. But if there's no shoulder or it's simply not possible to steer clear of traffic, slow your speed as much as possible and pull over at the first available location where you can get out and assess the situation.

Once you're safely on the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights and set your parking brake, you can now deal with your tire.

The Tools You'll Need

In order to change a flat, you'll need to have the right tools in your trunk. Don't make the mistake of waiting until you're stranded on the side of the road before checking to see if you have the necessary items.

The basic tools for changing a tire include a fully inflated spare, a car jack, a lug wrench, and safety cones or flares to protect you from oncoming traffic.

There's nothing worse than having a flat and then discovering you're missing a spare tire, a jack, or a lug wrench. So get in the habit of taking inventory of these items in your trunk every few months. And if any of them need to be replaced, take care of it before you need them.

Be sure to check out these online car repair manuals.

Using a Jack

Before removing your tire, you're going to need to raise your car. This requires a sturdy car jack. There are several different types of jacks, and most new cars come with at least a basic crank jack.

The key is to invest in a quality jack that's easy to use and capable of lifting and supporting a corner of your car off the ground while you swap tires.

Keep in mind that spending an extra $20 to $30 to upgrade your jack will be one of the best investments you'll ever make.

Place the jack in a location beneath the car where it connects with a section of the frame that provides solid and reliable support. Once the jack is positioned, crank it just enough so that it makes solid contact with the frame.

Now loosen the lug nuts. It's important to not loosen them too much or remove them until the car is fully elevated, but cracking them while the full weight of the car is on the tire will keep the tire from spinning while applying pressure to the lug wrench.

Removing the Lug Nuts

Once the lug nuts are loose, go ahead and use the jack to raise your tire off the ground. You don't need a ton of space. An inch or two should provide plenty of space for you to work.

Make sure that the car is resting squarely on the jack, and that the jack is still positioned solidly on the ground. Now you can remove the lug nuts. Place them together on the ground where you can keep track of them while you replace the flat with the spare.

Remove the Tire

Removing the flat tire can be tricky. Especially if the car has been driven for a number of years without having the tires rotated or removed for any other reason.

Why? Because the heat and grit from years on the road can fuse the wheel to the mounting plate, making them difficult to separate. This is the reason it's a good idea to keep a rubber mallet in your trunk in order to break the seal if necessary.

If you're having trouble freeing the wheel from the mounting plate, use a rubber mallet or your foot to give the tire a good whack. You might need to repeat this a few times before the wheel finally breaks free so that you're able to remove the tire from the car.

Once the flat is removed, just set it aside for now.

Mount the Spare

The process of mounting your spare tire is relatively simple. The key is to prepare your spare tire for mounting by placing it on the ground squarely in from of the mounting plate, alight it with the lug bolts, and then lifting it into place.

Snug the wheel against the mounting plate, loosely screw on the lug nuts, and then methodically tighten the nuts until they are slightly snug.

Now use the jack to gently lower the car until the tire is touching the ground and enough of the weight of your car is resting on the tire to allow you to tighten the nuts without the tire spinning.

Go ahead and tighten the nuts the rest of the way, and then remove the jack and place the tools and your flat inside the trunk.

Get Your Flat Repaired ASAP

It's important to understand that the average spare tire isn't intended to be left on a car for any lengthy period of time. They are designed to get you to a tire shop as quickly as possible for repair.

A Guide to How to Change a Tire When You're Stranded on the Side of the Road

Dealing with a flat tire can be a stressful experience. Fortunately, these tips for how to change a tire will provide the knowledge you need to avoid being stranded.

Keep scrolling to discover more great automotive tips and advice on our blog.

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